Method and device for drawing warp threads from a creel to a warper



' May 9, 1967 s. FURST 3,317,979

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DRAWING WARP THREADS FROM A CREEL TO A WARPERFiled March a, 1965 '7 Sheets- Sheet 1 F76. 1 FIG? J" Fr f-J L4 1% ,5.fl rjl, L 1 I L 1 1 3 r- L 1 X L ,4 8 2 4 E.

S. FURST METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DRAWING WARP THREADS May 9, 1967 FROM ACREEL TO A WARPER 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 8, 1965 May 9, 1967 s.FURST 3,317,979

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DRAWING WARP THREADS FROM A CREEL TO A WARPERFiled March 1965 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 9, 1967 s. FURST 3,317,979

7 METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DRAWING WARP THREADS FROM A CREEL TO A WARPERFiled March 8, 1965 TSheets-Sheet 4 May 9, 1967 5. METHOD AND DEVICE FOFild March 8, 1965 FURST FROM A CREEL TO A WARPER R DRAWING WARP THREADS7 Sheets-Sheet 5 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIK I I May 9. 1967 R S. FURST 3,317,979

. METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DRAWING WARP THREADS FROM A CREEL TO A WARPER IFiled March 8, 1965 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 May 9, 1967 s. FURST 3,317,979

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DRAWING WARP THREADS FROM A CREEL TO WARPER FiledMarch 8, 1965 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 United States Patent 3,317,979 METHOD ANDDEVICE FOR DRAWING WARP THREADS FROM A CREEL TO A WARPER Stefan iFurst,Monchen-Gladbach, Germany, assignor to Walter Reiners, Monchen-Gladbach,Germany Filed Mar. 8, 1965, Ser. No. 437,704 Claims priority,application Germany, Mar. 7, 1964, R 37,394; Mar. 14, 1964, R 37,450 24Claims. (CI. 2832) My invention relates to a method and device fordrawing warp threads from a creel to a warper.

For winding warp threads upon the beam of a warper, the individualthreads from the cheeses or other supply spools stuck upon the pegs of acreel must be drawn toward the beam and individually be placed betweenthe teeth of a guide comb. This requires a considerable amount of time,since the thread coming from each individual spool must be taken to thecomb of the beaming machine, and a proper sequence of the threads mustbe observed when placing them successively between the comb teeth. Ithas been attempted to simultaneously pass the threads from several orall spools of a creel vertical row to the comb, but it has beendifiicult to then hold the threads in such a manner as to prevent themfrom becoming entangled. Furthermore, the attending person was requiredto walk from the creel to the beaming machine and back at least once foreach individual row of the spool array. This still requires undesirablymuch time, stoppage of machinery and cost of labor.

It is an object of my invention to provide a method for drawing thethreads from a beaming creel to the beaming machine which greatlyreduces the amount of individual activities as well as total timeneeded.

Another, more specific object of the invention is to provide timeandwork-saving equipment universally applicable for drawing the warpthreads from a creel, regardless of the particular tooth divisions ofthe beaming comb being used at the warping machine.

Further objects of my invention deal with facilitating and expeditingthe operations required when drawing the threads of an entire creel tothe beaming machine and placing them accurately into the proper toothgaps of the comb.

According to the invention, the threads coming from all spools ofavertical row in the creel array are first fastened to a thread holdercommon to all of these spools or to the spools of more than one row.Thereafter the threads from several, preferably all, vertical rows ofthe creel are taken by means of the thread holder to the comb of thebeaming machine and successively placed between the teeth of the comb.

As a result, a large number of threads are passed jointly as a unit tothe com-b of the beaming machine so that the travel periods of theattendant are considerably shortened without the danger of the threadsbecoming entangled with one another. By virtue of the invention, theattending person need no longer walk to the beaming machine and thenback to the creel for each individual vertical row of the creel. Itrather suflices, for example, to walk only once along the spool array ofthe creel and to place the threads from each vertical row of spools intoa thread holder, keep the respective thread holders together, forexample by means of a supporting device to be carried on a shoulderstrap or belt, and then take all of the thread holders simultaneously tothe beaming machine. According to another mode of performing thismethod, the threads of all vertical rows of creel spools are fastenedsuccessively to a single thread holder which is then used by theattendant to take all of the warp threads simultaneously to the comb ofthe warper machine.

3,317,979 Patented May 9, 1967 According to another feature of theinvention, the transfer of the one or more thread holders from the creelto the beaming machine is further simplified by placing the threadholding means at the creel in a suitable transporting device. While, asmentioned, such a transporting device may consist of a support fastenedto the belt or a shoulder strap of the attendant person, it ispreferable to design the conveying means as a wheeled vehicle to be runalong the creel and up to the beaming machine.

It is sufficient in some cases if the threads of a vertical row in thecreel are seized and jointly fastened to the thread holder at a singlelocality. In many cases, however, the drawing of the threads isfacilitated and expedited by having the threads from the individualspools of a row held at the thread holder in mutually spaced relationand in the same sequence in which the spools are located on the creel.According to another feature of the invention, therefore, it isparticularly advantageous to fasten the threads side by side in thethread holder in the same succession in which the threads are taken fromthe spool row of the creel.

A further simplification of the drawing operation and a correspondingreduction in the required amount of time are obtainable by fastening thethreads to the thread holder at a mutual distance from each other whichcorresponds to the spacing between the teeth of the comb at the beamingmachine. For this purpose, and in accordance with another feature of theinvention, the threads coming from a vertical row of spools are placedover a blade-shaped edge or the like arranged at a given distance infront of the center locality of the spool row. After the threads havepassed over the edge, they are fastened to the thread holder which islocated between the edge and the creel at a distance from the edgecorresponding to the tooth division of the comb in the beaming machine.

There are different ways of fastening the threads to the thread holder.A particularly simple way is to glue the threads to the holder by meansof a conventional adhesive or by thermal welding of two foils ofsynthetic plastic. Another simple way of fastening the threads to theholder is to clamp the threads individually between the teeth of acomblike thread holder.

Accordingly, the device for performing the method of the invention ispreferably provided with a thread holder in form of a comblike structurehaving wedge-shaped tooth gaps to permit clamping the individual threadsinto the respective gaps. The distance between the teeth may accuratelycorrespond to the tooth division of the comb in the beaming machine sothat the threads on the thread holder are spaced from each other thesame distance as when they are subsequently laid into the warper comb ofthe machine.

However, the comblike thread holder may also be given a considerablylarger number of teeth than corresponds to the number of teeth in thecomb of the warper. This is of advantage in cases where the toothdivision of the warper comb may be changed. For example, the toothdivision on the thread holder may be an integral fraction, namely atmost A2, preferably only /5 to of the tooth division on the warper comb.In this case, a thread is placed into a gap following each fifth, sixthor seventh tooth of the thread holder. Such a thread holder isuniversally applicable for a variety of comb divisions of the warpercomb, without the necessity of providing for adjustability of the toothdivision on the thread holder.

As mentioned, it is desirable that the individual threads, coming fromthe spools of a vertical row in the creel be rapidly but reliably placedinto the thread holder in the proper sequence and in accordance with thetooth division of the warper comb. From this viewpoint, it is preferableto mount a measuring edge at a given distance in front of each verticalrow of the creel at a locality in the middle of the row. All of thethreads coming from the spools of a vertical row can be placed over themeasuring edge, and suitable guide means are provided for positioningthe thread holder at an adjustable distance between the measuring edgeand the creel or spools, this distance corresponding to the toothdivision of the warper comb. In such apparatus, the threads becomeproperly placed into the thread holder in accordance with the toothdivision of the warper comb without requiring appreciable attention orskill. Such a stationary measuring edge may be mounted in front of eachvertical row of the creel. In somecases, however, it is preferable toprovide a single measuring edge common to all of the vertical rows andextending transverse to the rows in fixed relation thereto.

For further, facilitating the operation and reducing the required amountof time, a transporting or conveying vehicle is preferably provided totravel along the creel and up to the beaming machine, the vehicle beingequipped with a device for receiving the thread holder means. If asingle thread holder is provided for all of the vertical rows of a creelside, the device for receiving the thread holder in the conveyingvehicle may simultaneously serve for supporting and adjusting the holderduring drawing and attaching the threads. If separate thread holders areprovided for the respective vertical rows of the creel, the conveyingvehicle may be provided with a plug board, clamping board or the likefor receiving the separable thread holders, preferably in the properlyaligned arrangement. This may serve to make certain that the threadholders can be individually taken off the vehicle for placing thethreads into the comb of the beaming machine, without requiring theotherwise necessary sorting operation for securing the proper sequence.

The conveying vehicle may have wheels running on rails. This has theadvantage that the distance of the vehicle from the creel is alwaysaccurately maintained and permits mounting the above-mentioned measuringedge on the vehicle itself. The measuring edge thus travels togetherwith the vehicle in front of the vertical rows of the creel.

It is further of advantage to provide the conveying vehicle with areleasable latch for preventing undesired return travel, so no looseningof the threads due to back travel of the vehicle can occur. If desired,the vehicle may be provided with a working place for the attendingperson to travel together with the movable equipment. By making thisambulatory working place additional in height, a creel can be given alarger height beyond the reach of an average person, thus permitting areduction in the floor space occupied by the creel.

The above-mentioned and further objects, advantages and features of myinvention, said features being set forth with particularity in theclaims annexed hereto, will be apparent from, and will be set forth in,the following with reference to embodiments of equipment according tothe invention illustrated by way of example on the accompanying drawingsin which FIG. 1 shows schematically a beaming creel with thread holdermeans according to the invention by a lateral view.

FIG. 2 shows schematically and in the same manner a second embodiment ofa creel with thread holding means common to all of the vertical spoolrows.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of a creel in conjunction with threadholding and conveying means according to the invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic lateral view and FIG. 5 a plan view showingschematically a creel with thread holding and conveying equipmentaccording to FIG. .3, and with particular reference to the insertion ofthe warp threads into the comb of the beam warper.

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 show respectively three different embodiments ofcomblike thread holders applicable in equipment as shown in the otherillustrations.

FIG. 9 shows schematically and in plan view a creel and a beam warper inconjunction with thread holding and conveying equipment of the typeshown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 10 is a lateral view and FIG. 11 a schematic top view of stillanother beaming plant comprising a creel and a beam warper with threaddrawing means according to the invention; and

FIGS. 12 to 20 show various details of equipment according to FIGS. 3 to5.

As shown in FIG. 1, the threads 2 coming from the respective spools in avertical row of a creel are to be taken to the comb of the beamingmachine, such as the comb 15 in FIGS. 9 and 11, from which they passparallel to each other onto the beam 16 of the warper. For this purpose,the threads coming from an individual vertical row are fastened in acomblike holder 3 (FIGS. 1, 6, 7, 8). After they are thus fastened, theyare drawn by means of the thread holder away from the creel and to thecomb of the warping machine.

As explained, it is preferable to fasten the threads side by side to theholder 3 at a distance from each other corresponding to the spacingbetween the teeth of the comb on the warping machine. For this purpose,a measuring edge 4 (FIG. 1) is mounted in front of the middle localityof the particular vertical spool row. All threads coming from this roware to :be laid over the edge. Since the spacing 5 between the pegs ofthe vertical row and between the localities where the threads issue fromthe creel is uniform, and since the distance 6 of the measuring edge 4from the outlet locality of the threads from the creel is constant, thedistance 7 can be determined at which the thread holder 3 must bemounted with respect to the measuring edge 4 in order to have therespective threads 2 fastened to the thread holder with a mutual spacingcorresponding to the tooth division 8 of the warper comb.

While in the embodiment represented in FIG. 1 a separate thread holder 3is used for each of the vertical rows of the creel, the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 2 is provided with a single thread holder 3A for allvertical rows of the creel. It is assumed in FIG. 2 that the threadholder 3A has already received the threads from one of the vertical rowsand that, at the illustrated moment, the thread holder is just locatedin front of the second vertical row. Shown by dot-and-dash lines are theinserted threads 2 of the first row. It will be seen that the threadholder 3A, after being placed in front of the second row, was shifteddownward a corresponding distance, so that the threads 2a of the secondrow are placed into the holder above the threads 2 of the first row butin the same spaced relation to each other. It is also apparent that thedistance between the lowermost thread 2a of the second row from theuppermost thread 2 of the first row is just as large as the distancesbetween the threads of a creel row from each other. This permits placingthe common thread holder 3A in front of the warper comb and to theninsert all of the threads by a single manipulation into the warper comb.

FIG. 3 shows how the threads of the individual creel rows aretransported to the comb of the warper machine by means of a conveyingvehicle 10. The spools 1, 1a to 1g of the illustrated horizontal tier ofcreel spools obscure the respective spools of the vertical rows locatedunderneath. It will be seen that all threads 2, 2a, 2b of the respectivevertical rows, after being placed into the thread holders 3, 3a, 3b,have been taken to the transporting carriage 10. The carriage isprovided with a plug board 11 (FIGS. 3, 10, 11). The individual threadholders 3, 3a, 3b are plugged or clamped one after the other to theboard 11. The working place of the attending person is denoted by 12(FIG. 3), but may also be located on the carriage 10 or on a platformattached to the carriage.

FIGS. 4 and illustrate how the threads are thereafter placed into thecomb of the beaming machine. Only the last four vertical rows of thecreel array are shown in FIG. 4 and denoted by 1d, 1e, 1 and 1g, whereasFIG. 5 shows only the uppermost horizontal tier of spools correspondingto the same four rows. The threads were previously attached to threadholders which were clamped to the board 11 of the carriage as describedwith reference to FIG. 3. Then the carriage at 10 was run in front ofthe comb of the beaming machine. Now the last inserted thread holder 3gis pulled out of the clamping board 11, passed over the wraper comb 15,turned 90 to the illustrated position (FIG. 5) and thereafter lowered(FIG. 4) so that the individual threads 2g pass between the individualteeth of the warper comb 15. The tooth division '8 of the warper comb 15corresponds to the spacing 8 indicated in FIG. 1. The thread holder 3gcan now be removed and be returned to the carriage 10. If desired,however, the thread holder may be kept attached to the threads 2g. Thenthe next following thread holder 3 is taken from the clamping board 11and the threads 2 are placed into the warper comb 15 adjacent to thethreads 2g, and so forth.

The individual thread holder 3b shown in FIG. 6 has a tooth division 8according to FIG. 1. This tooth division accurately corresponds to thedivision of the warper comb 15 (FIG. 5). The individual threads 2 of acreel row are either clamped into the (wedge-like gaps between the teethof the comb 3B, or they are all knotted together behind the threadholder, as shown, after they are placed into the tooth gaps.

The thread holder shown in FIG. 7 has teeth formed by pins mounted on astrip of metal. The tooth division 9 is considerably smaller than thetooth division 8 of the warper comb 15. It will be seen that the threads2 of a creel vertical row are placed into each second tooth gap of thecomblike holder 3C.

FIG. 8 shows a thread holder 3D consisting of a strip to which theindividual threads are attached by an adhesive, preferably along thelines 3D. Corresponding to FIG. 1, the adhesive line 3D is spaced fromthe measuring edge 4 a distance 7 so dimensioned that the threads 2 arefastened on the adhesive line 3D at mutual distances corresponding tothe tooth division 8 of the warper comb.

The plan view of the beam warping equipment shown in FIG. 9 comprises aV-shaped creel Z from whose array of spools the threads pass over thewarper comb 15 onto the driven beam 16. It will be recognized that thethreads of the vertical spool rows are passed to the warper comb 15 andplaced between the tooth gaps of the comb at the proper distance fromthe threads of the other rows. Employed for this purpose is a threadholder 3A according to FIG. 2 in which all threads coming from thespools of a single vertical row are held. On the left-hand side of thecreel Z, the threads from the last three vertical rows are not yetplaced into the thread holder 3A.

As mentioned, the method and equipment according to the invention can beperformed and designed in a great variety of ways and in each caseaffords reducing the time required for drawing the threads from thecreel to the warping machine down to a fraction of the time heretoforeneeded.

However, this normally simple method may involve difficulties in caseswhere the threads passing from the creel to the beaming machine mustchange their direction in order to prevent threads from rear rows to be,come entangled with threads from forward rows. It is known to employthread deflecting means, such as eye boards or the like, which maintainthe threads of the vertical rows at a proper distance from each other.When using such deflecting means, the method according to the invention,if carried out in the manner so far described, suffers delay because thethread holders with the threads must be placed individually about thedeflecting eyes or other means.

According to -another feature of the invention, however, such delay isprevented by placing between the individual thread holders, mutuallyspaced beside each other, a dividing member and passing this member tothe deflecting location of the threads at the creel. The time needed forperforming the method of drawing the threads to the beam warper can befurther reduced by passing all of these dividing members jointly to thedeflecting location of the threads at the creel.

The individual dividing members may be placed between the thread holdersprior' to placing the individual thread holders into the conveying meanssuch as the above-described carriage. However, the dividing members maybe also applied after all thread holders have been placed into thetransporting means. Preferably, the dividing members are placed betweenthe thread holders only after the carriage or other transporting meanshas been positioned in front of the warper comb. In this case, alldividing members, relative to a plan view of the machine, may be passedjointly by the transporting means to the deflecting locality of thethreads at the creel.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 incorporates dividingmembers of the type just described. The creel comprises six rows 1a to 1of supply spools whose respective threads are to be taken to the comb 15of the warping machine 26. The threads of each vertical row 1a to 1] areinserted into a comblike thread holder 3a to 3 The thread holders 3a to3 one for each vertical row, are stuck in the proper order upon asupporting bar 11 which, for example, is pivotally mounted on a conveyorcarriage not shown in FIGS. 10, 11 but corresponding for example tocarriage 10 in FIGS. 3 and 5. The supporting bar 11 is pivotallydisplaceable about a pivot pin 11a (FIG. 11).

A rake 20 serves as a dividing member and is hinged about a horizontalpivot pin 21 to the side of the creel facing the beaming machine. Themounting is preferably provided with a latch so that the rake memberremains arrested in the full-line position shown in FIG. 10 until thebar 11 on the vehicle, filled with the individual thread holders 3a to 3has reached the illustrated position in front of the warper comb 15 ofthe machine. The threads then extend as shown at 2a, 2b, 2c and soforth. Now the rake member 20 is turned downward to the broken-lineposition 20a in which it is arrested by a catch 22. As a result, thethreads coming from each vertical row 1a to 1 and held in the holders 3ato 3 are spread apart to now extend in accordance with the dot-and-dashlines 2a, 2b and so forth shown in FIG. 11. The rake member 20 nowconstitutes a deflecting means so that the individual threads comingfrom the individual vertical rows 1a to 1]- become deflected at therespective tines of the rake 20a. Consequently, after the threadholders, for example the holder 3 are transferred to the comb 15 of thewarping machine, the individual threads fastened to the holder 3 andcoming from the row I), assume the position show at 27".

If desired, the respective positions of pivot pin 21 and the catch 22according to FIG. 10 may be exchanged, so that the pivot 21 will belocated beneath the lowermost spool.

A more specific design of the above-mentioned clamping board 11 foraccommodating the thread holders 3, 3a, 3b (FIGS. 3, 4, 10, 11) isexemplified in FIGS. 16 through 19 and will be described presently. Theboard 11 is coaxially joined at both ends with respective round bodies23, 24 (FIGS. 16, 17) which are stuck upon parallel guide rods 25, 26respectively and are adjustable along the rods on which they can befixed by means of set screws (not illustrated). The abutment structurewhich forms the measuring edge 4 is fastened to the bodies 23, 24 behindthe board 11 as seen from the creel (FIGS. 17, 18, 19). The guide rods25, 26 are mounted on the conveying carriage 10 (FIGS. 3, 5, 12, 13).

A handle 60 secured to the body 23 (FIGS. 18, 15) serves for manuallydisplacing the carriage 10. Also fastened to the body 23 is a latchingdevice described hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15. Thethread holders 3, 3a, 3b are similar to the one shown in FIG. 6 butprovided with a larger number of teeth. Each thread holder has a laterallug 27 at its lower end (FIGS. 18, 19) provided with a slot 27 whosedepth corresponds approximately to the width of the bar 11, and the bar11, at the same locality, has a slot 11 Whose depth approximatelycorresponds to the width of the lug 17. It will be seen that each threadholder 3 with lug 27 can be readily stuck upon the bar 11 and just asreadily be removed therefrom.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show the conveying vehicle carrying a thread holder 3Aaccording to FIG. 2. The vehicle 10 comprises a base plate 28 on whichthe two vertical guide rods 25 and 26 are fastened. Respective holders29 and 30 are displaceable on the guide rods for securing an upperclamping bar 31 in position. Further holders 32 and 33, likewisedisplaceable on the respective rods 25 and 26, secure a lower clampingbar 34 in position. Also displaceable on the two guide rods 29 and 30are respective holders 35 and 36 to which the measuring-edge structure 4is fastened. The measuring edge thus forms part of the vehicle and isdisplaceable together therewith.

The vertical guide bar 25 further carries a holder 37 for theabove-mentioned handle 60 (FIGS. 13, 14, 15, 18) and latching mechanism.The holders 29, 30 and 32, 33 and 35, 36 and 37, after being adjustedlengthwise of the respective guide rods, can be fixed to the adjustedpositions by suitable means such as set screws (not illustrated). Theclamping bars 31, 34 are preferably provided with spring clamps 38, 39(FIGS. 12, 13) into which the thread holder 3A is clamped.

The base plate 28 of the vehicle carries bearings for wheels 4% 41, 42running on rails 43, 44, 45 (FIGS. 12, 13, 14, The wheels 41 and 42 arerigidly joined with their shaft 46. A ratchet gear 47 (FIGS. 14, 15)fixed to the shaft forms part of the latching mechanism.

The handle mounted on holder 37 has an extension 48 joined with a catchmember 4% which has three lobes 50, 51, 52 with two intermediaterecesses 53, 54. A lever 55 journalled on the extension 48 can bemanually turned downward into one of the recesses. The turning motion oflever 55 is transmitted by an arm 56 to a connecting rod 57. When thelever 48 is placed into the recess 53, the rod 57 is lowered. The rod 57is linked with a lever 58 which releases a latch pawl 59 to drop ontothe ratchet gear 47. The return travel of the vehicle is thus blockedbecause the shaft 46 and consequently the wheels 41 and 42 cannotrotate.

After all of the threads are drawn through the warper comb 15, thevehicle must be run back to the starting position at the creel. For thispurpose, the latching mechanism must be released. This is done byturning the lever 55 into the recess 54 (FIG. 15 Now the lever 58presses upon the pawl and lifts it out of the ratchet teeth.

To those skilled in the art, it will be obvious, upon a study of thisdisclosure, that my invention is amenable to a great variety ofmodifications and may be given embodiments other than illustrated anddescribed herein, without departing from the essential features of myinvention and within the scope of the claims annexed hereto.

I claim:

1. The method of drawing the threads from the spool array of a creelthrough the thread comb of a beam warper, which comprises fastening thethreads from all spools of a vertical row of the creel array in threadholder means common to the spools of at least said one vertical row,jointly passing the thread holder means with the threads from severalvertical rows to the comb of the warper, and laying the threadssequentially between the comb teeth.

2. The method of drawing the threads from the spool array of a creelthrough the thread comb of a beam warper, which comprises fastening thethreads from the spools of a vertical row of the creel arra yin threadholder means common to the spools of at least said one vertical thethreads from all said spools of the entire array to the comb of thewarper, and laying the threads sequentially between the comb teeth.

3. The method of drawing the threads from the spool array of a creelthrough the thread comb of a beam warper, which comprises fastening thethreads from the spools of a vertical row of the creel array in threadholder means common to the spools of at least said one vertical row,conveying the holder means with the attached threads away from the creelto the comb of the warper, and placing the threads by means of theholder means into respective tooth gaps of the comb.

4. The method according to claim 1, which comprises fastening thethreads to the thread holder in mutually spaced relation and side byside in the spool sequence of the row.

5. The method according to claim 1, which comprises fastening thethreads to the thread holder side by side in the spool sequence of therow and at a mutual distance substantially equal to the tooth spacing ofthe comb.

6. The method of drawing the threads from the spool array of a creelthrough the thread comb of a beam warper, which comprises placing thethreads from the respective spools of each vertical row of the creelarray over a fixed abutment located a given distance in front of themiddle of the row, engaging the threads by a thread holder at a localitybetween said abutment and the creel at a distance from the abutmentwhere the threads at the holder are spaced from each other in accordancewith the tooth division of the warper comb, fastening the threads to theholder at the points of respective engagement, transferring the holderwith the threads to the comb of the warper, and laying the threads intothe tooth gaps at the comb.

7. The method according to claim 4, which comprises fastening thethreads to the holder by gluing them thereto.

8. The method according to claim 4, wherein said thread holder hascomblike teeth, and said threads are fastened to the holder by clampingthem into the respective gaps between the teeth of the holder.

9. The method of drawing the threads from the spool array of a creelthrough the thread comb of a beam warper, which comprises fastening thethreads from all spools of each row to a thread holder in mutuallyspaced relation and side by side according to the spool sequence of therow, jointly moving the thread holders for all of the vertical rows tothe comb of the warper, and laying the threads by means of therespective holders between the teeth of the comb.

10. The method of drawing the threads from the spool array of a creelthrough the thread comb of a beam warper, which comprises passing thethreads from the respective spools of each vertical row over adeflection point to a thread holder and fastening the threads to theholder in mutually spaced relation and side by side according to thespool sequence of the row, joining the thread holders for all verticalrows together in mutually spaced relation, jointly moving the threadholders for all of the vertical rows to the comb of the warper, layingthe threads by means of the holders between the teeth of the comb, andinserting, after the fastening step and prior to the transfer step, adivider between each two adjacent thread holders and then moving thedividers from the holders to the deflection points at the creel.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein all of the divider membersare jointly moved from the holders to the deflection points.

12. The method of drawing the threads from the spool array of a creelthrough the thread comb of a beam warper, which comprises passing thethreads from the p tive spools of each vertical row over a deflectionpoint to a thread holder and fastening the threads to the holder inmutually spaced relation and side by side according to the spoolsequence of the row, joining the thread holders for all vertical rowstogether in mutually spaced relation, jointly moving the thread holdersfor all of the vertical rows to the comb of the warper, inserting adivider between each two adjacent thread holders and then moving thedividers from the holders to the deflection points at the creel, andthereafter laying the threads by means of the holders between the teethof the comb.

13. With a beam warper having a thread comb and a creel for an array ofwarp-thread spools, in combination, a device for drawing the threadsfrom the spools through the thread comb of the warper comprising athread holder in front of each vertical row of the creel array andhaving means for attaching the respective threads from the spools ofsaid row, and means for joining said thread holders to pass them to thethread comb of the warper.

14. In a beam warper device according to claim 13, said thread holderhaving comblike teeth with intermediate gaps for clamping the respectivethreads.

15. In a beam warper device according to claim 14, said thread holderhaving a tooth division amounting to a fraction of the tooth division ofsaid warper comb.

16. In a beam warper device according to claim 15, the tooth division ofsaid thread holder being to that of said comb.

17. A beam warper device according to claim 13, comprising a fixedabutment having an edge extending transversely in front of each verticalspool row at about the middle thereof and at a given distance therefrom,said thread holder being located between said edge and said row at apoint where the resulting spacing between the threads passing over theedge past said holder is substantially equal to the tooth division ofsaid comb.

18. A beam warper device according to claim 13, comprising a conveyingvehicle having a given travel path from said creel to said comb, saidvehicle having supporting means for accommodating and joining saidthread holders to be passed to said comb.

19. In a beam warper device according to claim 18,

10 said supporting means comprising a clamping board for removablysecuring said thread holders in aligned positions.

20. In a beam warper device according to claim 18, said abutment beingmounted on said vehicle so that said edge is displaceable with saidvehicle from row to row of said creel.

21. A beam warper device according to claim 13, comprising dividermembers disposed between each two of said thread holders when saidholders are joined together, means at said creel for defining respectivedeflection points for threads passing from the spools to the comb, saiddivider members being movable from said holders to said respectivedeflection points to prevent entanglement of the threads.

22. A beam warper device according to claim 21, comprising a rake devicehinged about a horizontal axis and having respective rake tines formingsaid divider members.

23. In a beam warper device according to claim 22, said rake devicehaving said hinge axis located above the uppermost spool localities ofsaid creel, said rake device being in raised position when saiddivider-forming tines are between said thread holders and being inlowered position when said tines are at said deflection points.

24. A beam warper device according to claim 13, comprising a conveyingvehicle having a given travel path from said creel to said comb, saidvehicle having supporting means for accommodating and joining saidthread holders to be passed to said comb, and having a releasable latchmechanism for preventing back travel of the vehicle.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,885,114 11/1932Klein 242131.1 2,578,017 12/1951 Rovas 2854 2,681,496 6/ 1954 Heckrotte2832 3,161,941 12/1964 John 28--72.5

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner. L. K. RIMRODT, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,317,979 May 9, 1967 Stefan Furst It is hereby certified that errorappears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that thesaid Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 8, line 3, for "a""read all same line 3, for "row" read rows line4, for "meansaicommon to the spools of at least said one vertical" readmeans, jointly transferring the holder means with Signed and sealed this7th day of January 1969.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer

13. WITH A BEAM WARPER HAVING A THREAD COMB AND A CREEL FOR AN ARRAY OFWARP-THREAD SPOOLS, IN COMBINATION, A DEVICE FOR DRAWING THE THREADSFROM THE SPOOLS THROUGH THE THREAD COMB OF THE WARPER COMPRISING ATHREAD HOLDER IN FRONT OF EACH VERTICAL ROW OF THE CREEL ARRAY ANDHAVING MEANS FOR ATTACHING THE RESPECTIVE THREADS FROM THE SPOOLS OFSAID ROW, AND MEANS FOR JOINING SAID THREAD HOLDERS TO PASS THEM TO THETHREAD COMB OF THE WARPER.